Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League clash between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor. Both of these sides come into this match in need of the points for very different reasons: the hosts are looking to boost their hopes of survival, while the visitors are looking to keep pressure on leaders Chelsea in the title race. Team news should be through soon.
Unchanged starting lineups have been a running theme throughout Burnley's season and manager Sean Dyche has gone with the same XI that drew 0-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. The only change comes on the subs bench as Matthew Taylor replaces Marvin Sordell.
After seeing his side dismantle Liverpool 4-1 last weekend, Arsene Wenger has kept the same XI for this evening's game. There is some change on their bench though as Wojciech Szczesny and Calum Chambers replace Matt Macey and Gabriel Paulista.
There are currently five other Premier League matches taking place across the country, but the most significant one in terms of its affect on this game is at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland are losing 4-0 to Crystal Palace. If things stay as they are there, a 1-0 win for Burnley would lift the Clarets out of the drop zone.
It's all well and good saying Burnley "only" need to beat Arsenal 1-0 to get out of the relegation zone, but they will have their work cut out this evening against the Premier League's in-form side. The Gunners head to Turf Moor having won their last seven games in the top flight, leaving them seven points behind leaders Chelsea. True, Jose Mourinho's side will have two games in hand after tonight, but a victory for Arsene Wenger's men would certainly put a lot of pressure on the title favourites ahead of their trip to Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.
UPDATE! The full-time results from this afternoon's Premier League games are in and it's been quite a day in the battle for survival. Sunderland have lost 4-1 at home to Crystal Palace, while Leicester City have pulled off a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion. Hull have also lost 2-0 at Southampton. It's incredibly tight at the bottom, with just four points separating bottom-placed Leicester and 16th-placed Sunderland. Again, what it all means for Burnley is that a win would lift them out of the bottom three.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche: ""I'm happy with the way the team is operating at the moment but it's a big challenge against a good side. Our mental strength has been evident all season and we've found clarity before on big occasions, and we will look for that again versus Arsenal."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "I have enough experience to know that I have to live with reality and reality is points and the next game. The dreams are for everybody - we all have dreams at night, but when I wake up in the morning I have to come here and make sure we give everything to win the next game.
"Chelsea have a difficult schedule, we have a difficult schedule, but what we can only do is master our own schedule. What we want is to go as high as we can until the end of the season, give our best and we are also in the semi-final of the FA Cup. So we are at an important moment of the Premier League season and it is a period where you show your quality by focusing on the next game and maintain the quality."
Do Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Premier League title? Arsene Wenger has been playing it down this week, but you have to say that Gunners are looking more likely than anyone else at the moment to put pressure on Chelsea. However, Wenger will be well aware that only a win will do this evening if his players want to keep their dream of being crowned champions alive.
HEAD TO HEAD: Arsenal have been the dominant side in this fixture down the years, winning 41 encounters compared to 31 victories for Burnley. The two teams have also played out 20 draws since they first went head to head.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four games against Burnley, with three of those matches ending in triumph for the Gunners. The reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium back in November saw Arsene Wenger's men earn a comfortable 3-0 victory thanks to two goals from Alexis Sanchez. Burnley's last win over Arsenal was a 2-0 victory in the League Cup six years ago.
It's a special day for Arsenal duo Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey as they reach different milestones for the club. Cazorla is making his 100th Premier League appearance for the Gunners, while Ramsey has reached 150 by being included in the starting lineup this evening.
Let's not forget that Burnley have caused one or two shocks in the Premier League this season. Arguably their most memorable victory came last month as they beat champions Manchester City 1-0 at Turf Moor thanks to a goal from George Boyd. They may need a bit of luck if they want to see off Arsenal, but Sean Dyche will be telling his players that they are more than capable of doing so.
The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel at Turf Moor as we edge closer to kickoff. Jason Shackell will lead out the home side, while Per Mertesacker will skipper the Gunners.
KICKOFF! The pre-match rituals have been done, so now we're ready for kickoff at Turf Moor. With both teams eager for points, it will be Arsenal to get us underway. Here we go!
Burnley have been pretty much pinned back inside their own half during these opening few minutes as the visitors continue to press. However, the hosts get half an opening when Vokes is set free down the left, but Ospina is quick off his line to snuff out the danger. Arsenal then go up the other end, only for Sanchez to fire over following some slack defending.
Burnley have come to life in the last few minutes. They're looking dangerous on the break, with Ings, Vokes and Boyd all giving the Arsenal defence plenty to think about. The visitors don't have the quickest backline in the league, so the Clarets may well be looking to exploit that with their pace.
Aaron Ramsey marks his 150th Premier League appearance for Arsenal with the opening goal of this game! The ball pings about in the Burnley box, with the hosts blocking two or three shots before Ramsey pops up to smash the ball past Heaton. Not the prettiest goal he's ever scored, but Arsenal won't mind one bit!
Burnley have given a good account of themselves so far, but it's fair to say that Arsenal have been the better team. The Gunners have been that bit more crisp and composed in the final third, as demonstrated by the build-up to their goal. It was messy once they got the ball in the box, but the move featured some swift passing and movement beforehand.
The hosts test the Arsenal defence with a free kick on the edge of the box. Jones steps up to take it, but his effort hits the wall before Ospina comes off his line to punch clear.
5 - Aaron Ramsey has been involved in five goals in his last four Premier League games (scored two, assisted three). Pivotal.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 11, 2015
Arsenal are very much on the hunt for a second goal here. They're looking threatening whenever they get forward, though Burnley are also doing a decent job of soaking up the pressure. At the other end of the pitch, Barnes sees his effort blocked by Koscielny.
CHANCE! Burnley get another free kick on the edge of the box that Trippier steps up to take. He manages to get the ball over the wall, but Ospina does brilliantly to scamper across his line and push it away. That looked to be heading in.
CHANCE! Now it's Arsenal's turn to come close with a free kick as Cazorla curls a superb effort half an inch wide of the post. That would have been a screamer had it gone in. Meanwhile, Burnley defender Michael Duff picks up a booking for dissent. Silly boy.
Arsenal are still controlling the majority of the ball at the moment, though they're lacking a bit of spark up front. Giroud hasn't seen much action so far, while Sanchez and Ozil have tried in vain to add to their side's tally.
Ozil has drifted into a deeper position in these last few minutes. The German is trying to pull a few strings from further back, but he's still struggling to get into the game. Meanwhile, Arsenal aren't looking in too much of a rush to extend their advantage. They're keeping Burnley at arm's length right now.
That's better from Arsenal. A slick counter-attack that goes from right to left ends with Sanchez trying to thread the ball through to Monreal. The Chilean puts too much on the pass, but it was a good idea nonetheless.
That kind of sums things for Burnley. Ings does brilliantly on the edge of the box to control a difficult ball before spreading it out wide to Mee. However, the full-back slips on the turf and Arsenal win back possession. Still, the hosts are still only one goal down. They remain very much in this game.
Arsenal have really tailed off in the last few minutes. It's now Burnley who are in the ascendancy. The Gunners get the chance to mount a break as Sanchez wins possession in the centre of the pitch, but his attempted pass to Ramsey is a poor one that goes out of play. The Welshman doesn't look best pleased.
Mike Dean blows the half-time whistle, bringing an end to a good first half from an Arsenal perspective. The Gunners lead 1-0 thanks to Aaron Ramsey's early strike. Arsene Wenger's side have struggled to add to their lead, while Burnley remain in with a chance of taking something from this game.
Arsenal haven't been put under too much pressure at the back so far, but Wenger will be mildly concerned by how they've found it difficult to stretch their advantage. The visitors have had their share of the ball in the final third, but they've lacked a cutting edge.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche won't be too upset with what he's seen so far, but the Clarets are going to need to be more competitive in midfield in the second half. Arsenal have been allowed a bit too much time and space on occasion this evening. It's only their poor finishing that's stopped Burnley from being punished further.
A reminder of what's at stake this evening: Arsenal will close the gap on leaders Chelsea to four points if they come away with a win, while Burnley would drag themselves out of the relegation zone if they come from behind to claim the victory.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out for the second half and it will be Burnley to get us going again. No changes from either manager during the interval.
It's been a pretty even opening to the second half, with both teams struggling to assert themselves early on. Burnley win themselves their first corner of the game out on the right, which presents Barnes with a shooting chance in the box, but his effort is easily held by Ospina.
Barnes is lucky not to pick up a booking for a poor challenge on Bellerin. The Burnley man did well initially to win the ball, but his follow-up tackle on Bellerin was late to say the least.
Burnley are certainly having more of a go in this half than they did during the first period. Their approach has been similar throughout in terms of physicality, but they've started to show a bit more attacking intent going forward since the restart.
CHANCE! Arsenal haven't done a great deal in this second half, but they almost double their lead through Sanchez. The striker receives the ball about 25 yards from goal before drilling a low drive towards the bottom corner. However, Heaton gets down low to make the save.
We've had an hour played at Turf Moor, where Arsenal still lead Burnley 1-0 thanks to that 11th-minute goal from Aaron Ramsey. The Gunners are being made to work hard for the win at the moment because Burnley are doing a great job in chasing them down and forcing them onto the back foot.
CHANCE! Arsenal show what they're capable of on the break as a slick counter-attacking move ends with Ozil picking out Ramsey. The midfielder has the chance to hit a first-time volley, but he instead takes a touch before seeing his shot blocked. The Gunners build another attack moments later, though Cazorla smashes his effort over the bar.
Arsenal are starting to find their rhythm a bit more now as we head towards the final 20 minutes at Turf Moor. They're still lacking that killer touch when it matters, but their approach play and desire to get forward has improved in the past few minutes.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Burnley! Mee does brilliantly down the left as he runs past Bellerin before putting in a decent cross towards Boyd at the back post. The Scot tries to hit it on the volley, but he fluffs his line and slices the ball instead, allowing Arsenal to clear.
CHANCE! Burnley knock on the Arsenal door again as Ings has a crack with an acrobatic effort inside the box that Ospina holds. The Clarets are going down fighting, that's for sure. It could be a cracking finale if the Gunners fail to add to their tally.
That won't help Ozil's cause. The German receives the ball out on the left before trying to pick out Cazorla on the edge of the box. However, his pass is a woeful one which gifts possession back to Burnley. It's not been one of Ozil's better performances so far.
There's an intriguing ebb and flow to this game now. Arsenal are doing most of the attacking at the moment, but Burnley are still looking like a threat when they get forward. The hosts are more direct in their attacking play, while the visitors are adopting a more probing style.
This is looking a bit ominous for Burnley now as Arsenal enjoying a huge amount of possession. The hosts are having to sit back and soak up all this pressure while the clock ticks down. The Gunners can smell blood here.
CHANCE! Arsenal come close to wrapping up the points as Welbeck is played in by Ozil, but the substitute's effort from a tight angle is deflected narrowly wide. Burnley do well to clear the resulting corner.
The visitors go on the hunt again as Sanchez controls a high ball over the top down the right before trying to play in Ozil. However, the Chilean's pass is cut out at the last minute by Arfield. That could have been curtains for Burnley. As it is, they've still got a few minutes to salvage something from this game.
Arsenal are just looking to run the clock down as we head into the final minute of added time. Burnley are frantically trying to get the ball back, but they can't.
BURNLEY, ARSENAL SUBS: Changes for both sides here as Matty Taylor replaces Jones for Burnley, while Calum Chambers is on in place of Sanchez for Arsenal.
Arsenal keep some pressure on leaders Chelsea thanks to their eighth consecutive win in the Premier League. They were made to work for it by a resilient Burnley, but Aaron Ramsey's 11th-minute strike made the difference in the end. While the Gunners still have slim hopes of winning the title, the Clarets remain in the drop zone.
That's all from our live text coverage of this evening's match, but you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both camps right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
ID:216494: cacheID:216494:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:31436: